The Joining Ceremony

“There are many things history has gotten wrong about us,” the father told his son on his eighth birthday, “and we like it that way.”

“What did they get wrong?”

“Well, for starters, they think we can’t have children of our own.” He looked at his son and smiled. “Hmm, let’s see, what else…um, we don’t like garlic, don’t have a reflection, most of us have no manners or hygiene.”

They boy laughed. “I love pepper and garlic on my pizza, and I don’t think the girls would like me if I didn’t have good hygiene.”

The boy’s mother came into the room carrying a large birthday cake with eight candles on it. “Make a wish,” she said.

The boy closed his eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candles. “Can we go now? Please?”

His parents looked at each and grinned. He was so much more prepared then they were for their first time. His mother remembers how afraid she was on her first trip to the ancient burial ground to take part in the joining ceremony. His father had cried the entire way there and tried to escape his collar and leash — which is precisely why his parents insisted on using them.

“Yes, we can go,” his father said, smiling.

The boy ran out the door and was already across the street by the time his parents locked up behind them.

The trip to the burial ground took them past Grace’s Flowers and its noxious fumes, and the so-called haunted house that was only spooky if you were three — or human. Once the family reached the ancient burial grounds the moon was high overhead, giving the mist a mysterious glow that could only mean the Grand Master himself was there.

The boy’s parents became excited. The Grand Master…at their son’s joining ceremony. Oh, it was any vampire parent’s dream.

“You know what to do son,” his father said.

The boy walked through the growing crowd and joined the other children in the center of the burial ground.

Hank walked to the boy’s and spoke quietly to each of them, then addressed the crowd. “We are gathered here, on the site of our forefather’s creation, to welcome the next generation into our fold.”

Parents smiled and held each other proudly.

“Do you,” Hank said to the children, “willingly enter into this covenant with the ancient ones? A covenant that requires utmost respect and loyalty.”

“Yes.”

“Do you willingly accept your role in the continuation and promotion of human folklore concerning us and other ancient ones?”

“Yes.”

The boy laughed thinking about all the false rumors that he could help spread now that he had his own computer.

“Then I welcome you into our ancient family.”

Everyone in attendance let out a bloodcurdling scream that echoed over the ridge and into the human homes. Frantic calls to 911 continued for the next hour much to the amusement of the crowd.

“See son, we’re not some evil creature born from sin,” his father said.

“Time to go home and get your homework done,” his mother added.

The boy groaned. “Vampires aren’t evil…homework is evil.”

This short was inspired by M.M.H.B Challenge – Spooky Tales (required words are in bold)